A couple of years and a half ago when I landed in US I rarely drank chaha. I shall refrain from calling it TEA because my sentiments dont allow me to. The word Tea sounds snobbish, hi-soc type word cos when I hear the word TEA I always imagine some uptight Brit asking me "Would you like some TEA". Compared to that CHAHA tayar ahere... sound much more robust and homely.
Anyway, back to the point. Picture this, Manya and I have had a tough two setter, ate batatyachi bhaji like Hogs watched "U have got Mail" for the upteenth time.Now as the rest of folks are peacefully sleeping their way and I am writing this blog, Manya has enough motivation to get up and make chaha for everyone.He doesnt even consider it a sacrifice,perhaps in the beleief that can only be born out of a sense of duty.That,my dear friends is heaven. To have a hot cup of chaha bought at your service without you having to shift from where u are lazing around.When it happens on a weekend morning, it makes it even sweeter.
All this makes me wonder how I will manage when 411 shuts shop in Jan.Aha, I can already smell the chaha boiling in the water, that peculiar smell that I have come to love, that irreplacable chaha over which I have had endless discussions with my roomies on topics as
commonplace as Tendlyas batting position to as exotic as Einsteins theories. Correction - During the latter, it was less of a discussion and more of a tutorial.When Balu talks on Einstein and physics we just shutup and listen.
December 23, 2004
November 22, 2004
To walk or not to walk, that is the question..
As much I had restrained from commenting on it, the ugly spat between Craig Mcmillan and Gilly has reignited the debate on walking.The Aussie keeper, a self made cricketer and a consentious one at that set the bar when he started walking when he felt he had nicked one.I recall him doing that a couple of ocassions at least one being the WC 2004 and the recent one in Mumbai test.When McMillan nicked it, Gilly appealed, the umpire
turned it down, Gilly accepted the call but let loose a couple of barbs at McMillan.Nothing unnatural about that.The Kangaroos play hard,let the umpires do their job and usually are up for a couple of beers with the same guy they reminded early in the day,the virtues of using a bat rather than the pads.
turned it down, Gilly accepted the call but let loose a couple of barbs at McMillan.Nothing unnatural about that.The Kangaroos play hard,let the umpires do their job and usually are up for a couple of beers with the same guy they reminded early in the day,the virtues of using a bat rather than the pads.
Its hard to take sides here.Intl cricket is intensely competitive.Careers are made and broken in a matter of a few tests.Some unlucky blokes never get a second chance, others get dozens and are still on trial and the really unlucky ones like VVS, live under the errie feeling that even after being around for half a dozen or more years or more and putting the best attacks to sword, a failure would set some sort of a witch hunt again.Injuries often mean time away from the field and the insecurity gets heightened when the replacement does a killer job. All of a sudden last seasons hero is no longer a necessity, a sort of player the team no longer needs or cant fit into the new scheme of things.All this plus the financial aspect and u realise that a place in the XI needs to be maintained at all costs.So why would a player walk ? And some players are downright "khadoos".They would ask the local meterologist if it was the local earthquake that removed the bails and not the bowlers delivery himself.
Gilly is the exception that proves the rule.He has never tried to make an issue of his walking habit. He has set a certain way in which he will conduct himself on the field.He does not expect others to walk and certainly isisnt averse from having a go at the batsmen like McMillan who will wait for the umpires call.But when Fleming perceived it as trying to pressurise a player, I think he was getting it wrong.It seems to me to be a reflection
of the state of mind of Intl players these days.Do they have a problem with an honest bloke ? Are they uncomfortable in his honesty ? Would they rather that he played the game in the same way that they do where they will wait for the umpires decision,
thank their stars if he missed the nick or bat-pad sound and mutter a few obsenities if he messed up.
of the state of mind of Intl players these days.Do they have a problem with an honest bloke ? Are they uncomfortable in his honesty ? Would they rather that he played the game in the same way that they do where they will wait for the umpires decision,
thank their stars if he missed the nick or bat-pad sound and mutter a few obsenities if he messed up.
The ICC has appointed professional umpires are on the panel to do their job.The men in white for my money do not seem to be doign a great job and certain teams have come to expect the harsh end of the stick from certain umpires.Ask Ganguly about Bucknor and there wont be too many complimemts I am sure.Bucknor and Shepeherd, just two of the most respected umpires are rapidly loosing their reputations.Sheperd's face might me might cherubic and reminiscent of your charming old uncle, but his standards havent been great in recent times.Perhaps the ICC should look into some newer faces much the way captains look for new blood every now and then.
November 10, 2004
I think its gonna be a long long time
As I play this Elton John song on my Yahoo Launch, I grasp the appropriateness of it all.With the Thesis Defense exactly a week away I think I am in for a long haul.
Frenetic would be the most appropriate word to describe the goings on the past few weeks.Writing the damn thesis took up the past few weeks but some of the nights, when I stayed awake to watch the disappointing performance of Team India against the Aussies. Looking for India tickets was way simpler than expected. Got a good deal and bought it. Got a reAlly good dell deal and got that one two. I couldnt be happier with my choice. Dell Inspirion 700 m is light and sleek, exactly what a laptops meant to be. Not one of those dumbells that a couple of my roomies have !
Diwali is here and frankly not a bit of interest in it rite now.Just seems to me that unknowingly, priorities have changed.Family, sweets crackers and new clothes is all fun but perhaps the time is right to look beyond sentiments and look at the real things in life
How am I going to get a job ?
Am I going to shoot for a PhD ? Where ? What areas ?
Hard questions are beginning to hit me and as of now I have no answers !
sujit
The effects of writing a thesis are evident now.I just justified the text
Ahem!
October 11, 2004
Reality Bites
Finally! The inevitable cant be avoided. As much as I love writing, I have discovered that when it comes to writing anything technical, I am a little less excited.Ever since I started my feeble attempts to put my research work on pen and paper, I have realised that doing things is one thing and putting it a double-spaced,TNR font 12, an entirely different cup of tea.Of course when I say "my research work" my roomies shall question those very words.They will not hesitate to ruthlessly attack me. They will gently prod and poke at me, and condone my using words like Research.No one does research.PERIOD. Haaaaa!
Of course, since 4 of us are in the same boat,it is less harder on me.I mean when you see folks around you,sharing the same frustrations and feelings it is way more enjoyable.I am unashamed to say so. Manya and I, have this system of keeping a watch over one another where we make sure that no-one of us types too much in one single day,lest one of us go ahead.This guy is so nuts, that on the w/e he would feel nuting of going on a drinking binge with his pals, but the first Q to pop of his mouth when he returns home is "Khekdyaaa...haramkhora kiti chaplas ? Mala khabar ali ahe ki tu lai kam keles kal...."On such ocassions, I look heavenwards and ask why he gave me roomies who would keep sorta discouraging one another from hard-work and having "night-outs". Instead we keep IMing each other,me for a coffee,he for a Bidi break.Both of us comply, of course.
Everything that was worth doing has already been done, it seems.That makes writing a "Problem Statement" or "Research motivation" an unbeleivably difficult task.I have been stuck for the past couple of weeks writing just that.Today I finally ran out of patience, so off I am describing my experimental work !!!Thats easier going!(Basically because you can put what you actually did, no reading, no nonsense.)Nice and plain simple!
September 23, 2004
Hot and Cold
Yo
Day was off to the crappiest start,me wishing I hadnt left the comforts of my bed this morning.
First Manya wakes up late and so doesnt have time to make tea.I volunteer only to discover that the milk is gone bad.I rush to school in Bhosus car (with 5 others BTW) and head straight to the coffee room, But I am way too early.Our Sec hasnt even turned up yet so no coffee.Yeack....
I go to my chair asking for his sign and hes not in Office.Everyones gone for the Dalai Lama lecture.I spend 20 mnts contemplating before I go to the UP to gather docs for my OPT.Turns out the money order machine is screwed up.Thats pretty much in keeping with the theme of the day I guess.But 2 hours into my day I am not done yet.The photo office tells me that they dont have anyone to take my photos (Then what for did they open up at all ?) I curse under my breath, mutter a few "chailas" and head to my campus job where the final news strikes.Peter hasnt still installed Sci-Finder on my machine.Yeaowwwwww.....
But the day does end much better.Ganpati wisarjan goes pretty well, everyone turns up on time and I am saved the trouble of cookinf for my roomies when Kamal bring Chole for 20 folks.His math went pretty wrong actually.7 wiped out the stuff meant for ~20. Haha
Day was off to the crappiest start,me wishing I hadnt left the comforts of my bed this morning.
First Manya wakes up late and so doesnt have time to make tea.I volunteer only to discover that the milk is gone bad.I rush to school in Bhosus car (with 5 others BTW) and head straight to the coffee room, But I am way too early.Our Sec hasnt even turned up yet so no coffee.Yeack....
I go to my chair asking for his sign and hes not in Office.Everyones gone for the Dalai Lama lecture.I spend 20 mnts contemplating before I go to the UP to gather docs for my OPT.Turns out the money order machine is screwed up.Thats pretty much in keeping with the theme of the day I guess.But 2 hours into my day I am not done yet.The photo office tells me that they dont have anyone to take my photos (Then what for did they open up at all ?) I curse under my breath, mutter a few "chailas" and head to my campus job where the final news strikes.Peter hasnt still installed Sci-Finder on my machine.Yeaowwwwww.....
But the day does end much better.Ganpati wisarjan goes pretty well, everyone turns up on time and I am saved the trouble of cookinf for my roomies when Kamal bring Chole for 20 folks.His math went pretty wrong actually.7 wiped out the stuff meant for ~20. Haha
September 13, 2004
Bade Bhaiyya ki Shaadi hai
Yo
After the stream of not-so-great-news over the past few months, a reason for me to smile about.A big one in fact. Big bro is about to get engaged and that alone has done enough to elevate my mood up a few notches.
Unfortunately, I will miss the engagement ceremony scheduled for 15th.What I shall miss the most apart from the actual ceremony is the food. :P.Just got the official menu today, enough to make me drool.Will I miss the shopping? Think not.Its no fun to walk on Lakshumi Rasta with bags in both hands and sun beating down on you.And haggling with those shopkeepers,Not my cup of tea!Though my mom does seem to enjoy this routine a great deal I suspect.What I would have enjoyed, no doubt, is the tradition of going to Vaishali after the shoppng rounds!Ahh...
Its funny this marriage thing.The rate at which my classmates are getting engaged/married makes me wonder whetehr I am a slow-mover or some sort of a dud.I mean I cant make peace with the fact that guys I have been fast friends with for like 10-12 years are about to get married.Esp in Atul's case.He and I have been together since ad infinitum.The only reason he managed to fall in love is because of me or a better way to put it is the "absence of me".So long as both of us were together none was hit by the love bug.Thats coz we did all those useless things that I suppose girls dont give a s*** about.Go to ARNOLD gym in the morning,go to School (Optional for him),come back, Play cricket,go and eat at the most unhygenic but tasty tapris in pune, sit on the bike in my "chaouk" or his and chat on nonsense topics.Go home for dinner and come back at Durga agin for a final cup of Coffee.But the moment came back to US from my India pilgrimage, this hapless soul must have been bored to death,so much so that he actually took up to jogging on the tekdi and BOOM!Then cupid strikes, he meets her parents,faces a few nervous/anxious/nail biting moments and a couple of months ago he tells me on MSN "I am in love".Hahah.....Straight from a masala film.
Adios
PS : Girls name is Smita.Shes a CA.Awesome.Her elder bro,settled in Kuwait is Sujit.Which Means now that I am Sujit Jr. for all official purposes.Kinda funny because I was already Tats Jr.!
After the stream of not-so-great-news over the past few months, a reason for me to smile about.A big one in fact. Big bro is about to get engaged and that alone has done enough to elevate my mood up a few notches.
Unfortunately, I will miss the engagement ceremony scheduled for 15th.What I shall miss the most apart from the actual ceremony is the food. :P.Just got the official menu today, enough to make me drool.Will I miss the shopping? Think not.Its no fun to walk on Lakshumi Rasta with bags in both hands and sun beating down on you.And haggling with those shopkeepers,Not my cup of tea!Though my mom does seem to enjoy this routine a great deal I suspect.What I would have enjoyed, no doubt, is the tradition of going to Vaishali after the shoppng rounds!Ahh...
Its funny this marriage thing.The rate at which my classmates are getting engaged/married makes me wonder whetehr I am a slow-mover or some sort of a dud.I mean I cant make peace with the fact that guys I have been fast friends with for like 10-12 years are about to get married.Esp in Atul's case.He and I have been together since ad infinitum.The only reason he managed to fall in love is because of me or a better way to put it is the "absence of me".So long as both of us were together none was hit by the love bug.Thats coz we did all those useless things that I suppose girls dont give a s*** about.Go to ARNOLD gym in the morning,go to School (Optional for him),come back, Play cricket,go and eat at the most unhygenic but tasty tapris in pune, sit on the bike in my "chaouk" or his and chat on nonsense topics.Go home for dinner and come back at Durga agin for a final cup of Coffee.But the moment came back to US from my India pilgrimage, this hapless soul must have been bored to death,so much so that he actually took up to jogging on the tekdi and BOOM!Then cupid strikes, he meets her parents,faces a few nervous/anxious/nail biting moments and a couple of months ago he tells me on MSN "I am in love".Hahah.....Straight from a masala film.
Adios
PS : Girls name is Smita.Shes a CA.Awesome.Her elder bro,settled in Kuwait is Sujit.Which Means now that I am Sujit Jr. for all official purposes.Kinda funny because I was already Tats Jr.!
September 07, 2004
A few good (wo)men : Godboles Version
Yo
I am not done yet.Atul godbole happens to be a langoti-yaar who shares the same obsession with the movie AFGM like I do.
Here is his version, the scene being set in software company!
Read on.This ones even better than mine!
NOTE : This is for fun purposes only.No offences intended !
===============================================
Khandu's trial :Khandu : what do u wanna discuss now? My favourite platform?
My lawyer : Khandu, your boss told you that the job was open foranybody?
Khandu : Yes
My lawyer : He didnt tell you that the job was only open togorgeous
good-looking girls?
Khandu : No
My lawyer : And you were clear about what your boss wanted?
Khandu: Crystal
My lawyer : Is there any chance you ignored your boss's order?
Khandu : Ignore the order?
My lawyer : Any chance you forgot about it?
Khandu : No
My lawyer : Any chance that you left your boss's office andsaid..THE OLD MAN IS WRONG!
Khandu : you ever worked as a programmer at a (female-deficient ) company such as xyz?
My lawyer : No
Khandu : You ever worked under tremendous deadlines ( with onlyguys all around you )?
My lawyer : No
Khandu : Run your code on another colleague's( male) computerand asked
HIM to run his code on yours?
My lawyer :No
Khandu : We folow orders. WE FOLLOW ORDERS or projects run late.Its that simple. Are we clear?
My lawyer : Yes
Khandu : ARE WE CLEAR?
My lawyer : Yes
My lawyer : Khandu, I have just one more question before I call fellow
programmers Agarwal and Chachre. If your boos gave you an orderthat the> > >job was open for anybody and you always follow ur boss's orders,then why was the job posting advertised as only for gorgeous girls?
Khandu ( stuttering ) : Umm...The job umm ...required gorgeousgirls
My lawyer : Thats not what you said...you said the boss orderedyou to> list
he job as open for anybody. Then why the discriminating posting...khandu??> > Khandu : Sometimes you have to use your own mind....
My lawyer : No...you made it clear just a moment ago that youalways> follow your boss' orders. You follow orders or projects run late.
Khandu :You %^&$&%&%&
My lawyer : Khandu....why the discriminating posting?
Khandu ( slient)
My lawyer : Khandu...you deliberately posted such a listing...didnt you...THE MOMENT YOU LEFT YOUR BOSS" OFFICE...YOU CUT YOURFANTASIES LOOSE....YOU IMAGINED YOURSELF SURROUNDED BY GORGEOUSGIRLS....YOU GAVE THE DISCRIMINATING JOB LISTING...DIDNT YOU? ......khandu..... Did u order that the job be only for good-looking girls
Khandu : I did what my desires forced me to do...
My lawyer : DID YOU ORDER that the job be only for good-looking girls
Khandu : You are goddamm right I did
My lawyer : Please the court, the general court should take a note of what Khandu just said i suggest that Khandu be arrested immediately.
Khandu : What is this...some kind of a joke?
Khandu ( angry ) to my laywer : I WILL KILL YOU. You messed withthe wrong programmer!!
Khandu ( somehwat calm ) : You have no idea what you did today.You just
weakened the IT industry
====================================
You cant handle the job!! We have a world that has companiesand those companies are run by girls with uhh long hair. Whos gonna havelong hair...you...You, Atul Godbole. Natani has a greatercandidature than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Khandu and you curse xyz,you have that luxury , you have the luxury of not knowing what I know,that xyz face though ugly and tormenting, xyz is still a girl and khandelwal's company while philandering and amorous to you, gives jobs. You dont want a girl becauwe deep down inside you get to seethem in theUS. Khandu needs girls on the jobs, khandu wants girls on thejobs. Khandu uses words like gorgeous, good looking, beautiful. He uses them as the backbone of the very life spend chasing girls, You use them as punchlines!! Khandu has neither the time, nor the inclination to explainhimself to a person who rises and sleeps thinking of a job that he providesand then questions the manner in which he provides . He'll rather youjust say Thank you and went on your way. Other wise I suggest you grow yourhair long and try for a job. Either way khandu doesnt give a damn what youthink your lawyer is gonna do. Are we clear???? Arrreee wee clear?????
I am not done yet.Atul godbole happens to be a langoti-yaar who shares the same obsession with the movie AFGM like I do.
Here is his version, the scene being set in software company!
Read on.This ones even better than mine!
NOTE : This is for fun purposes only.No offences intended !
===============================================
Khandu's trial :Khandu : what do u wanna discuss now? My favourite platform?
My lawyer : Khandu, your boss told you that the job was open foranybody?
Khandu : Yes
My lawyer : He didnt tell you that the job was only open togorgeous
good-looking girls?
Khandu : No
My lawyer : And you were clear about what your boss wanted?
Khandu: Crystal
My lawyer : Is there any chance you ignored your boss's order?
Khandu : Ignore the order?
My lawyer : Any chance you forgot about it?
Khandu : No
My lawyer : Any chance that you left your boss's office andsaid..THE OLD MAN IS WRONG!
Khandu : you ever worked as a programmer at a (female-deficient ) company such as xyz?
My lawyer : No
Khandu : You ever worked under tremendous deadlines ( with onlyguys all around you )?
My lawyer : No
Khandu : Run your code on another colleague's( male) computerand asked
HIM to run his code on yours?
My lawyer :No
Khandu : We folow orders. WE FOLLOW ORDERS or projects run late.Its that simple. Are we clear?
My lawyer : Yes
Khandu : ARE WE CLEAR?
My lawyer : Yes
My lawyer : Khandu, I have just one more question before I call fellow
programmers Agarwal and Chachre. If your boos gave you an orderthat the> > >job was open for anybody and you always follow ur boss's orders,then why was the job posting advertised as only for gorgeous girls?
Khandu ( stuttering ) : Umm...The job umm ...required gorgeousgirls
My lawyer : Thats not what you said...you said the boss orderedyou to> list
he job as open for anybody. Then why the discriminating posting...khandu??> > Khandu : Sometimes you have to use your own mind....
My lawyer : No...you made it clear just a moment ago that youalways> follow your boss' orders. You follow orders or projects run late.
Khandu :You %^&$&%&%&
My lawyer : Khandu....why the discriminating posting?
Khandu ( slient)
My lawyer : Khandu...you deliberately posted such a listing...didnt you...THE MOMENT YOU LEFT YOUR BOSS" OFFICE...YOU CUT YOURFANTASIES LOOSE....YOU IMAGINED YOURSELF SURROUNDED BY GORGEOUSGIRLS....YOU GAVE THE DISCRIMINATING JOB LISTING...DIDNT YOU? ......khandu..... Did u order that the job be only for good-looking girls
Khandu : I did what my desires forced me to do...
My lawyer : DID YOU ORDER that the job be only for good-looking girls
Khandu : You are goddamm right I did
My lawyer : Please the court, the general court should take a note of what Khandu just said i suggest that Khandu be arrested immediately.
Khandu : What is this...some kind of a joke?
Khandu ( angry ) to my laywer : I WILL KILL YOU. You messed withthe wrong programmer!!
Khandu ( somehwat calm ) : You have no idea what you did today.You just
weakened the IT industry
====================================
You cant handle the job!! We have a world that has companiesand those companies are run by girls with uhh long hair. Whos gonna havelong hair...you...You, Atul Godbole. Natani has a greatercandidature than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Khandu and you curse xyz,you have that luxury , you have the luxury of not knowing what I know,that xyz face though ugly and tormenting, xyz is still a girl and khandelwal's company while philandering and amorous to you, gives jobs. You dont want a girl becauwe deep down inside you get to seethem in theUS. Khandu needs girls on the jobs, khandu wants girls on thejobs. Khandu uses words like gorgeous, good looking, beautiful. He uses them as the backbone of the very life spend chasing girls, You use them as punchlines!! Khandu has neither the time, nor the inclination to explainhimself to a person who rises and sleeps thinking of a job that he providesand then questions the manner in which he provides . He'll rather youjust say Thank you and went on your way. Other wise I suggest you grow yourhair long and try for a job. Either way khandu doesnt give a damn what youthink your lawyer is gonna do. Are we clear???? Arrreee wee clear?????
A few Good men (Tats version)
Yo
Was just browsing through my inbox when I hit on this old email that I sent to my Miami egroup over an year ago.This was when I was under the influence of Col.Nathan R.Jessops fiery dialog delivery in a "A few good men".Along with AAA it is the only movie that I must have watched again and again and again and,,,,,,,
Heres a modified version of the court trial.
U wont appreciate this of course if you dont know the Original AFGM
A few references: Khare aka Sachin aka JAAD (for his enormous girth) is my roomie and Anyway here goes :
PS : Another version coming up soon.
================================================
The scene is between me and khare...who play tom cruise and Jack Nicholson respectivelyread and u will understand..
===================================================
Part 1 of 2
Now listen up punekars coz i really mean this when i say it.Theres nutin better,in mumbai.beleive me gmen,than a train that u have to catch in the morning.Try and Catch em on time coz I saythis is true,If u havent caught a local with one hand dangling inmid air and the other griiping the pole,then u have just let thebest in life pass u by. Ofcourse, your problem is that u are a Punekar living in Sadashiv Peth (no pun intended).You will have to do with just taking your sic Bajaj to school and work until theyelect to start some subway.
I am a fairman Tats but this criticism of mumbai locals is makingme abs crazy.U want to hear about mumbai locals.On the record I say that trains that trains run on time and provide excellentservice.Off the record i say that they run late,are crammed with people and very filthy.Now if some punekar happens to dislike them so be it.We like our trains as they are.You want to malign the mumbai locals... roll the dice and take your chance.I catch a local everyday running 300 yards dodging my way though thousands of people all capable of tripping me.So dont think for a moment that u can comedown here flash your new Bajaj at me and make me nervous.You see son,I can deal with the mumbai rains,the mumbai trains andthe mumbai riots,I dont want the bikes and I dont want rickshaws.What i do want is for you to stand there, on platform #2and with your puneri mouth extend me some ******* courtesy,You haveto ask me nicely!================================
Part 2 of 2
Tats says "I want the truth
"You cant handle the truth!! Son, We live in a world that has trainsand thosetrains are caughth by men with fast legs . Whos gonna runfast ?..you? (Pointing to Tats) ...You, Pappan?We Mumbaikars have a greater responsibility than youcan possibly fathom. You weep for Monty and you curse these trainscause you havethat luxury , you have the luxury of not knowing what I know,that mumbais trains though crowded and chaotic move poeple. Their existence while grotesque and incomprehensible to you movespeople.You dont like trains becauwe deep down inside you dont get to see them in Pune. mumbai needs these trains, Mumbai wants thesetrains. Tats uses words like filthy,crowded and running late. We use themas the backbone of the very life spend chasing locals, You use them as punchlines!! I have neither the time, nor the inclination to explainmyself to a person who travels daily from churchgate to Parle andback from parle to Churchgate in these locals and then questions the manner in which he is transported . I willrather you just say Thank you and went on your way. Other wise I suggest youbuy urself a new bajaj and go to office.Wither way I dont give a damn what u doAre we clear????Arrreee wee clear?????
Was just browsing through my inbox when I hit on this old email that I sent to my Miami egroup over an year ago.This was when I was under the influence of Col.Nathan R.Jessops fiery dialog delivery in a "A few good men".Along with AAA it is the only movie that I must have watched again and again and again and,,,,,,,
Heres a modified version of the court trial.
U wont appreciate this of course if you dont know the Original AFGM
A few references: Khare aka Sachin aka JAAD (for his enormous girth) is my roomie and Anyway here goes :
PS : Another version coming up soon.
================================================
The scene is between me and khare...who play tom cruise and Jack Nicholson respectivelyread and u will understand..
===================================================
Part 1 of 2
Now listen up punekars coz i really mean this when i say it.Theres nutin better,in mumbai.beleive me gmen,than a train that u have to catch in the morning.Try and Catch em on time coz I saythis is true,If u havent caught a local with one hand dangling inmid air and the other griiping the pole,then u have just let thebest in life pass u by. Ofcourse, your problem is that u are a Punekar living in Sadashiv Peth (no pun intended).You will have to do with just taking your sic Bajaj to school and work until theyelect to start some subway.
I am a fairman Tats but this criticism of mumbai locals is makingme abs crazy.U want to hear about mumbai locals.On the record I say that trains that trains run on time and provide excellentservice.Off the record i say that they run late,are crammed with people and very filthy.Now if some punekar happens to dislike them so be it.We like our trains as they are.You want to malign the mumbai locals... roll the dice and take your chance.I catch a local everyday running 300 yards dodging my way though thousands of people all capable of tripping me.So dont think for a moment that u can comedown here flash your new Bajaj at me and make me nervous.You see son,I can deal with the mumbai rains,the mumbai trains andthe mumbai riots,I dont want the bikes and I dont want rickshaws.What i do want is for you to stand there, on platform #2and with your puneri mouth extend me some ******* courtesy,You haveto ask me nicely!================================
Part 2 of 2
Tats says "I want the truth
"You cant handle the truth!! Son, We live in a world that has trainsand thosetrains are caughth by men with fast legs . Whos gonna runfast ?..you? (Pointing to Tats) ...You, Pappan?We Mumbaikars have a greater responsibility than youcan possibly fathom. You weep for Monty and you curse these trainscause you havethat luxury , you have the luxury of not knowing what I know,that mumbais trains though crowded and chaotic move poeple. Their existence while grotesque and incomprehensible to you movespeople.You dont like trains becauwe deep down inside you dont get to see them in Pune. mumbai needs these trains, Mumbai wants thesetrains. Tats uses words like filthy,crowded and running late. We use themas the backbone of the very life spend chasing locals, You use them as punchlines!! I have neither the time, nor the inclination to explainmyself to a person who travels daily from churchgate to Parle andback from parle to Churchgate in these locals and then questions the manner in which he is transported . I willrather you just say Thank you and went on your way. Other wise I suggest youbuy urself a new bajaj and go to office.Wither way I dont give a damn what u doAre we clear????Arrreee wee clear?????
September 04, 2004
Top 10 must do for a research group leader, A grads perspective
Yo
I have resigned myself to the fact that I am a hopelessly lazy blogger and from hence I will do my best to avoid starting a blog with the usual "Back after a long time ".Its Just that, starting that way makes me feel a whole lot better and serves as a way to get rid of that guilty feeling.
My advisor resigned from school.Leaving me it of an a bit of a spot.Its going to be a whole lot of fun for me in the coming months.Putting my thesis in shape,defending it and look for a job.Leaves me unbeleivably excited ,huh!Some karmic interventions might save me though and as the saying goes "Dont beleive in Miracles,RELY on them".Its frustrating to say the least.After 2 solid years spent in the US , I do not have a research effort that I might be proud of.
Lessons learnt.Or better still
"Top 10 things I would do if I were a professor in charge of a research group"
1.Be professional in all activities.Dont let personal and professional relationships mix.I can imagine chilling out with a beer or a cup of coffee once in a while but that about it.
2.Research must be focussed.One problem identified and the effort underway.Danging your fingers in many pies is bound to burn all.
3.What matters is scientific DATA , rest all is absolute bull shit.
4.Be independent, depending on others is a way of handicapping yourself.You can have collaborators all over the globe, but they are with you only so long as you keep your part of the deal.I mean even a novice would recognise that !
5.Strong leadership and control over the group is necessary.Exert your authority where required.
6.Leaving team meetings incomplete, coming late consistently for team meetings and missing team meetings w/o prior information - O boy I would absolutely blast that person.Thats putting it mildly.Or maybe Fire him.Absolutely.I mean are the rest of the team members Idiots to turn up on time ?
7.A team meeting means that Student talks, rest listen and then discuss what was said.This leads to constructive brain storming.No point, in discussing travel schedules, tele-confs in Japan and Germany and Honolulu.I mean who cares. The fancy worded emailing and teleconferencing are all worthless unless backed up by research data
8. Personally I prefer to work in the conventional timings.Come early in mornings and get out once you are done.I like to keep my evenings free for Tennis or V.ball. But as a leaderI would not go on harping about the importance of working on weekends. I would rather urge them to take at least a Sunday off and come at reasonable times.A 25 year, I would assume has enough maturity to decide what timings he needs to keep and what schedules he needs to pursue to keep up with his work.Some guys work better at nights! Accept it. Whast the big deal is asking evryone to be in School at 9-00 ?
9.I would try and get involved in research work myself !
10.I would follow 1-9.Doing that, I figure is normal for most academic folks around here.
PS : These views are developed from my genral understanding of the past 2 yrs in Univ.environment in US
I have resigned myself to the fact that I am a hopelessly lazy blogger and from hence I will do my best to avoid starting a blog with the usual "Back after a long time ".Its Just that, starting that way makes me feel a whole lot better and serves as a way to get rid of that guilty feeling.
My advisor resigned from school.Leaving me it of an a bit of a spot.Its going to be a whole lot of fun for me in the coming months.Putting my thesis in shape,defending it and look for a job.Leaves me unbeleivably excited ,huh!Some karmic interventions might save me though and as the saying goes "Dont beleive in Miracles,RELY on them".Its frustrating to say the least.After 2 solid years spent in the US , I do not have a research effort that I might be proud of.
Lessons learnt.Or better still
"Top 10 things I would do if I were a professor in charge of a research group"
1.Be professional in all activities.Dont let personal and professional relationships mix.I can imagine chilling out with a beer or a cup of coffee once in a while but that about it.
2.Research must be focussed.One problem identified and the effort underway.Danging your fingers in many pies is bound to burn all.
3.What matters is scientific DATA , rest all is absolute bull shit.
4.Be independent, depending on others is a way of handicapping yourself.You can have collaborators all over the globe, but they are with you only so long as you keep your part of the deal.I mean even a novice would recognise that !
5.Strong leadership and control over the group is necessary.Exert your authority where required.
6.Leaving team meetings incomplete, coming late consistently for team meetings and missing team meetings w/o prior information - O boy I would absolutely blast that person.Thats putting it mildly.Or maybe Fire him.Absolutely.I mean are the rest of the team members Idiots to turn up on time ?
7.A team meeting means that Student talks, rest listen and then discuss what was said.This leads to constructive brain storming.No point, in discussing travel schedules, tele-confs in Japan and Germany and Honolulu.I mean who cares. The fancy worded emailing and teleconferencing are all worthless unless backed up by research data
8. Personally I prefer to work in the conventional timings.Come early in mornings and get out once you are done.I like to keep my evenings free for Tennis or V.ball. But as a leaderI would not go on harping about the importance of working on weekends. I would rather urge them to take at least a Sunday off and come at reasonable times.A 25 year, I would assume has enough maturity to decide what timings he needs to keep and what schedules he needs to pursue to keep up with his work.Some guys work better at nights! Accept it. Whast the big deal is asking evryone to be in School at 9-00 ?
9.I would try and get involved in research work myself !
10.I would follow 1-9.Doing that, I figure is normal for most academic folks around here.
PS : These views are developed from my genral understanding of the past 2 yrs in Univ.environment in US
August 06, 2004
A bad week for 411
As suddenly as Miamis weather changes from a bright sunshine to dull unrelenting rainstorms, so has the immediate future of 2 of my roommies.One tragically lost his father of a cardiac arrest and had to fly back to India.Being the only son of his parents leaves a big responsibility on his shoulders.The other lost his job that had began only a couple of months ago.Lay offs are bad even at the best of times but when they come at a stage when you are in heavy debt it must can be most demoralising.With Visa problems to be encountered with, it becomes a game of chess.Each move needs to be carefully orchestrated keeping in mind what can happen a few months down the road.There seem to be so many possible permutations and combinations that can crop up that you might not know whether to keep your chin up and hope for the best Or to prepare for checkmate.
It has been a bad week for us here in 411.The apartment that usually is a beehive of activity has been rather quiet, each one rather keeping to himself, perhaps still trying to absorb the shock.But I do hope the dark clouds lift and the sunlight bring back some cheer and joy that has always been the hallmark of char-she-aakra.
It has been a bad week for us here in 411.The apartment that usually is a beehive of activity has been rather quiet, each one rather keeping to himself, perhaps still trying to absorb the shock.But I do hope the dark clouds lift and the sunlight bring back some cheer and joy that has always been the hallmark of char-she-aakra.
July 27, 2004
3 lazy bums in the Den
Yo
I am beginning to realise, with a deep sense of guilt, what a lazy slob I am.My self proclaimed intentions of waking up at 7-30 am each morning have met with mostly diasater and only some success.
These past months I have **moved** from the master bedroom to the smaller one, affectionately christened "THE DEN".It is so called because it is insulated from all wordly disturbances.Blinds drawn means no Light, doors closed means no sounds and 3 lazy sleepers means no one else dare enter the room.And with the AC set at 75 F there is just enough chill in the room to **motivate** me to sleep those extra 5 minutes which usually translates into the better part of an hour!
Solution : 2 alarms set 10/15 minutes from each other, and making sure that once the second one goes off, I must not lie flat again, I mean I can keep my eyes closed but that must be done in a sitting position.If I go 180 degrees again, I am doomed!
Whew, its hard work waking up in the mornings
I am beginning to realise, with a deep sense of guilt, what a lazy slob I am.My self proclaimed intentions of waking up at 7-30 am each morning have met with mostly diasater and only some success.
These past months I have **moved** from the master bedroom to the smaller one, affectionately christened "THE DEN".It is so called because it is insulated from all wordly disturbances.Blinds drawn means no Light, doors closed means no sounds and 3 lazy sleepers means no one else dare enter the room.And with the AC set at 75 F there is just enough chill in the room to **motivate** me to sleep those extra 5 minutes which usually translates into the better part of an hour!
Solution : 2 alarms set 10/15 minutes from each other, and making sure that once the second one goes off, I must not lie flat again, I mean I can keep my eyes closed but that must be done in a sitting position.If I go 180 degrees again, I am doomed!
Whew, its hard work waking up in the mornings
July 01, 2004
For Murali, the Hits just keep on coming
Who does Murali remind you of?
Aha-got you didnt I? Murali himself coz there hasnt been one like him in ages.At least not since the days cricket started its 24 circus on TV, when perhaps it was possbile for a crooked arm to escape notice or for a unkind prank to escape the umpires censure.But ever since the Kerry Packer revolutionised the game the players themselves have become the object of everyones **attention**. Murali, can count himself as its most famous victim.
When was the last time a slightly, built mischeviously smiling, cunning off spinner came along. First firmly established himself as the worlds premier off spinner, outlasted his peers saqlain and Bhajji who fall to injuries,motivational problems and the like, before zooming along to become the claim the record for the test wickets.All this playing for a
traditionally weak test side.
Murali remains an enigma for no apparently fault of his.His bowling action crooked as it is had raised no hackles initially with umpiring community.Those were the days when SL was but a dot on the cricket map, and apart from an ocassional win they hardly troubled statisticians.Murali was just another off spinner, who did take wickets,but what the heck did it matter.SL lost, and it was inconsequential that one among them had a crooked arm.All was nice and cool in ICC's Fairyland. But diasaster was round the corner.He was called for throwing Down Under.That infamous tour was marked by biterness and resulted in 2 major cricketing breakthroughs.One- SL under the wily Ranatunga united
themselves as a cohesive force and used it as a motivation to win the following WC in the subcontinent beating the Aussies in the Finals. Secondly Jayasuriya and Kalu changed the batting principles head to toe, launching a furious attack on the Aussies in the first 15.
Following this he came under intense scrutiny only to come out unscathed thanks to the Biomechanics experts (an absolute joke !!)and then back in trouble again and redeemed again.Its a bit of a cat and mouse game really with a touch of farce to it Allowing one exception to the rule is all but making it the norm for the second and third and dozens
to follow.Are blind allowed to drive?Nah, no chance ,he's physically unfit for that.Conversely, do fit players compete in paralympics? They would gain an unfair advantage wouldnt they? Makes sense to most except the men who matter in
the ICC's quarters.
I have a sneeky feeling that all umpires doubt muralis action but refuse to call him.Perhaps its a matter of letting sleeping dogs lie or perhaps the Umpires lack the guts to call him.Whatever, Murali has the unique distinction of being a record
holder with no one quite willing to accept him as one.And whoever does, happens to possess a SLanlkan passport no doubt.There has been no shortage of **controversial champions** in sport.Ben johnson won the 100 m dash before the world came to know that he was on steroids.Result- stripped of his gold.Mike Tyson won and won ugly , Michael Schumacher was once considered a dirty driver (Gamesmanship is another word for it.).However the difference being that Mike Tyson still evokes memories of stunning KOs, of ferocious upper cuts and silvery jabs.No one questions his abilities as a Boxer. (Keep aside his extra cirricular activities for a while), Schumi for all the dirty press he got in the past has secured his place in history as the all time F1 great. **Champion stuff mind you**. In cricket itself, Javed Bhai and Dennis Lillie played hard and played dirty.Almost always.When the straight method didnt work, Plan B was used.But did they ever gain unfair advantages? Not in my memory. It was champion stuff from champion players who havent always taken the normal route.But they never crossed limits of their sport.
With Murali though, its a complete tragedy .We should have been celebrating his art, marvelling at his persistence in bolwing dozens of overs an innings, been thrilled by his guile, in drawing the batsmen forward for what he thought would be a gorgeous cover drive whch instead turned out to be a bowled through the gate or a stumping as a result of falling over.We should have been singing enconiums for him and the press should have heralded him as the best ever off spinner in modern day cricket if not all time.Instead we read despair at the very fact that even with such a twisted action he is allowed to bowl.We resent him his achievements, and end up demonizing him.We reports each day about
some half hearted attempt by the ICC or the SL ckt board to sort the matter.We read the Aussie PM calling him names, Bedi calling him a Javelin thrower and Naseer hussain cussing and calling him a F****** cheat. The head of the sports reigning champion country, a widely respected spin bowler (Only for his bowling ,I suppose coz when it
comes to humility and respect Paaji doesnt give two hoots to anyone) and the latter the former captain of the English side.These are the only a minority of those who have been so frustrated by the whole saga that they had no choice but to vent their feeling in press.
The ICC has goofed up badly.They have dilly dallied the whole issue, hoping it would pass away as a bad nightmare, instead it can become a daily crisis, a **sardard** to deal with , with no solution in sight and no one looking for one.
Perhaps they look forward to the day when the tiny offspinner calls it a day, hangs up his spikes and tells his grandchildren the tales of his exploits from faraway lands , from Lords to Lucknow, from Peshawar to Perth, and the umpiring community heaves a sigh of relief and cricket goes back to its nice old days when matches were played on uncovered pitches and enjoyed by lazy fat englishmen with tea and Biscuits, with their Daily Telegraph , pet poodles and cigar pipes to give em lads a soft cheer or two.
Thats not happening I can tell you!!!
Aha-got you didnt I? Murali himself coz there hasnt been one like him in ages.At least not since the days cricket started its 24 circus on TV, when perhaps it was possbile for a crooked arm to escape notice or for a unkind prank to escape the umpires censure.But ever since the Kerry Packer revolutionised the game the players themselves have become the object of everyones **attention**. Murali, can count himself as its most famous victim.
When was the last time a slightly, built mischeviously smiling, cunning off spinner came along. First firmly established himself as the worlds premier off spinner, outlasted his peers saqlain and Bhajji who fall to injuries,motivational problems and the like, before zooming along to become the claim the record for the test wickets.All this playing for a
traditionally weak test side.
Murali remains an enigma for no apparently fault of his.His bowling action crooked as it is had raised no hackles initially with umpiring community.Those were the days when SL was but a dot on the cricket map, and apart from an ocassional win they hardly troubled statisticians.Murali was just another off spinner, who did take wickets,but what the heck did it matter.SL lost, and it was inconsequential that one among them had a crooked arm.All was nice and cool in ICC's Fairyland. But diasaster was round the corner.He was called for throwing Down Under.That infamous tour was marked by biterness and resulted in 2 major cricketing breakthroughs.One- SL under the wily Ranatunga united
themselves as a cohesive force and used it as a motivation to win the following WC in the subcontinent beating the Aussies in the Finals. Secondly Jayasuriya and Kalu changed the batting principles head to toe, launching a furious attack on the Aussies in the first 15.
Following this he came under intense scrutiny only to come out unscathed thanks to the Biomechanics experts (an absolute joke !!)and then back in trouble again and redeemed again.Its a bit of a cat and mouse game really with a touch of farce to it Allowing one exception to the rule is all but making it the norm for the second and third and dozens
to follow.Are blind allowed to drive?Nah, no chance ,he's physically unfit for that.Conversely, do fit players compete in paralympics? They would gain an unfair advantage wouldnt they? Makes sense to most except the men who matter in
the ICC's quarters.
I have a sneeky feeling that all umpires doubt muralis action but refuse to call him.Perhaps its a matter of letting sleeping dogs lie or perhaps the Umpires lack the guts to call him.Whatever, Murali has the unique distinction of being a record
holder with no one quite willing to accept him as one.And whoever does, happens to possess a SLanlkan passport no doubt.There has been no shortage of **controversial champions** in sport.Ben johnson won the 100 m dash before the world came to know that he was on steroids.Result- stripped of his gold.Mike Tyson won and won ugly , Michael Schumacher was once considered a dirty driver (Gamesmanship is another word for it.).However the difference being that Mike Tyson still evokes memories of stunning KOs, of ferocious upper cuts and silvery jabs.No one questions his abilities as a Boxer. (Keep aside his extra cirricular activities for a while), Schumi for all the dirty press he got in the past has secured his place in history as the all time F1 great. **Champion stuff mind you**. In cricket itself, Javed Bhai and Dennis Lillie played hard and played dirty.Almost always.When the straight method didnt work, Plan B was used.But did they ever gain unfair advantages? Not in my memory. It was champion stuff from champion players who havent always taken the normal route.But they never crossed limits of their sport.
With Murali though, its a complete tragedy .We should have been celebrating his art, marvelling at his persistence in bolwing dozens of overs an innings, been thrilled by his guile, in drawing the batsmen forward for what he thought would be a gorgeous cover drive whch instead turned out to be a bowled through the gate or a stumping as a result of falling over.We should have been singing enconiums for him and the press should have heralded him as the best ever off spinner in modern day cricket if not all time.Instead we read despair at the very fact that even with such a twisted action he is allowed to bowl.We resent him his achievements, and end up demonizing him.We reports each day about
some half hearted attempt by the ICC or the SL ckt board to sort the matter.We read the Aussie PM calling him names, Bedi calling him a Javelin thrower and Naseer hussain cussing and calling him a F****** cheat. The head of the sports reigning champion country, a widely respected spin bowler (Only for his bowling ,I suppose coz when it
comes to humility and respect Paaji doesnt give two hoots to anyone) and the latter the former captain of the English side.These are the only a minority of those who have been so frustrated by the whole saga that they had no choice but to vent their feeling in press.
The ICC has goofed up badly.They have dilly dallied the whole issue, hoping it would pass away as a bad nightmare, instead it can become a daily crisis, a **sardard** to deal with , with no solution in sight and no one looking for one.
Perhaps they look forward to the day when the tiny offspinner calls it a day, hangs up his spikes and tells his grandchildren the tales of his exploits from faraway lands , from Lords to Lucknow, from Peshawar to Perth, and the umpiring community heaves a sigh of relief and cricket goes back to its nice old days when matches were played on uncovered pitches and enjoyed by lazy fat englishmen with tea and Biscuits, with their Daily Telegraph , pet poodles and cigar pipes to give em lads a soft cheer or two.
Thats not happening I can tell you!!!
June 11, 2004
Learning is a never ending quest,
Been awfully long since I last wrote.A multiple no of things have hapenned in the meanwhile.Starting with my visit to the Argonne National Lab in Chicago May 23-27.Was quite an experience I must say.What I saw there left me with more questions in my mind than answers which I had gone to seek in the first place.
What struck me most during the short 3 day visit was the fact that some scientists have a working experience of more than 20 25 years in such research facilities.Yet they are so humble and so normal.Almost amuses me.In fact I developed such a nice rapport with one of the beam line scientists that I started calling him by his nickname Sasha.I mean it certainly sounds much more fun than calling him Dr.Kolesnikov or Alexander.Hehe.He assisted me and while casually talking to him I came to know that he had worked in Russia, U.K.,Germany and US.All of it in research facilities.
Its worth thinking what a rich knowledge repositiry he would possess.And so was the case with 2 other scientists I interacted with.But I guess this is normal for them.The academic environment of US has taught me one thing fir sure.However much you learn it is still never enough.
The other thing that struk me was that from the moment I landed at ANL (in a stunning white Limo BTW)to the moment I said goodbye, everything was so organised.Moved like clockwork.Its amazing to think that a facility operated by a Univ can function with such a corporate like efficiency.The planning and thought given to every little thing makes this a worthwhile learning experience.,
Now the small part that remains untold? What was I doing there in the first place? Well, there was some discretionary beam time available and since Chun and Renu are collaborators we got the chance to do some expts.
Quasi elastic Neutron Scattering studies of Glucose Oxidase
Low Resolution Medium Energy Chopper Spectrometer studies on Cytochrome C
Thats what I did!!!Look forward now to attending the National School on Neutron and Xray scattering in Aug.
Wheels moving finally!!!!
What struck me most during the short 3 day visit was the fact that some scientists have a working experience of more than 20 25 years in such research facilities.Yet they are so humble and so normal.Almost amuses me.In fact I developed such a nice rapport with one of the beam line scientists that I started calling him by his nickname Sasha.I mean it certainly sounds much more fun than calling him Dr.Kolesnikov or Alexander.Hehe.He assisted me and while casually talking to him I came to know that he had worked in Russia, U.K.,Germany and US.All of it in research facilities.
Its worth thinking what a rich knowledge repositiry he would possess.And so was the case with 2 other scientists I interacted with.But I guess this is normal for them.The academic environment of US has taught me one thing fir sure.However much you learn it is still never enough.
The other thing that struk me was that from the moment I landed at ANL (in a stunning white Limo BTW)to the moment I said goodbye, everything was so organised.Moved like clockwork.Its amazing to think that a facility operated by a Univ can function with such a corporate like efficiency.The planning and thought given to every little thing makes this a worthwhile learning experience.,
Now the small part that remains untold? What was I doing there in the first place? Well, there was some discretionary beam time available and since Chun and Renu are collaborators we got the chance to do some expts.
Quasi elastic Neutron Scattering studies of Glucose Oxidase
Low Resolution Medium Energy Chopper Spectrometer studies on Cytochrome C
Thats what I did!!!Look forward now to attending the National School on Neutron and Xray scattering in Aug.
Wheels moving finally!!!!
May 11, 2004
Ordering chemicals is driving me nuts
Was trying (still am )to order some chemicals for some experiments.Its a torture.The bureaucracy involved in the process is cumbersome to say the least.
First take the Requisition form , fill it up, get it signed from Renu.Next take it to Hilda,she prepares some sort of Form in MS Excel that it to be attached to the original form.That done, go to Adriana, she who's orders must be obeyed, for she works in the Deans Office.Then once she gives the acct nos and all that, take those forms to Dr.Byrne, he who talks incessantly but knowledgeably on any topic under the sun, and in fact beyond too(He had once spoken to me on planets and stuff like galaxies!).Once this is done, it takes around 2 weeks to get the stuff.
I am spending the better part of the past few days calling Cust Serv at Sigma Aldrich,at Amersham (sic)
Whew! Just walking from my lab to the Deans office 3 4 times a day leaves me tired ! Its about 2 minutes walk dudes!
Someday if i manage to complete my experiments and ever graduate , I shall look back upon this blog with great emotion and think to myself Those were the times!
Gotta go now.Gym time!!!
First take the Requisition form , fill it up, get it signed from Renu.Next take it to Hilda,she prepares some sort of Form in MS Excel that it to be attached to the original form.That done, go to Adriana, she who's orders must be obeyed, for she works in the Deans Office.Then once she gives the acct nos and all that, take those forms to Dr.Byrne, he who talks incessantly but knowledgeably on any topic under the sun, and in fact beyond too(He had once spoken to me on planets and stuff like galaxies!).Once this is done, it takes around 2 weeks to get the stuff.
I am spending the better part of the past few days calling Cust Serv at Sigma Aldrich,at Amersham (sic)
Whew! Just walking from my lab to the Deans office 3 4 times a day leaves me tired ! Its about 2 minutes walk dudes!
Someday if i manage to complete my experiments and ever graduate , I shall look back upon this blog with great emotion and think to myself Those were the times!
Gotta go now.Gym time!!!
May 06, 2004
Match Fixing, and conspiracy theories....Ohhh No...Not again
YoYo
The spectre of match fixing has raised its ugly head again and left me in a depressed mood.I am a die hard cricket fan.Cricket is my nasha,my passion and no doubt one of my motivators.A good performance by the Men in Blue raises my self confidence a few notches,a defeat often signals the start of a dreary, lackluster day or even a couple of them and god forbid more than that.
Over a period of time, I have tamed down a little bit, but only just.(What this really means is that I no longer follow Zim. V/s Aus or Bangladesh V/s SL types of tests, or the fortunes of a hopelessly dull Maharashtra Ranji team, wherein the only point of interest is whether Hayden hits a qaurter ton a la Lara or whether Murali ends up with 20 wickets in the test instead of his customary 15).
Perhaps this is why I am deeply troubled and hurt everytime someone mentions, as casually as he were telling a joke, "Are Sujya. Matches fixed ahet bahutek, nahitar aapan itka bhari kheluch shakat nahi".Not only does it send me in the "I am angry and pissed of zone" it also makes me wonder if the person making these allegations had the brain size of a intelligent pea.
It is terribly unfair for the 11 guys out there in the middle to say the least.I mean c,mmon.I was especially incensed and infuriated when I heard these allegations during the recent Indo-Pak series.Here we were, going to our bugbears after 15 years, with only Tendlya having played in Pak before, carrying a young team, with not only cricket matches to win but also hearts (Ref : Atal jees statement, "Matches hi nahi, Dil bhi jeet lo").When they actually started winning the Conspiracy theorists were out with knives.Games have been predecied at the highest political levels so as to benefit both governments.
Oh really and of course Pervej Mias cook has told u that or perhaps Ataljees secretary sent u a phone call one fine morning.Given the efforts that our team put in the oneday and test games, I am willing tp bet my bottom Dollar (There aint too much of them anyway :-D) that we won Fair and Square.We played better cricket on most days, and wanted to win more badly than Pakistan. Hence the result.Of the 2 one day games we lost, one of them was on a green top where our batsmen were caught naping.Good bowling form Pak was responsible for our defeat and similar was the case in the 2nd test when Umar Gul ripped thro our line up again on a helpful track.Of the games we won, the 4th oneday was due to a stunning partnershipo between Kaif and Dravid.The first one day we won by keeping our cool, and the 5th was due to a amazing boundary catch by tendlya. A test was won on the back of a glorious triple ton by Viru. and of course the Wall was infallible in the 3rd one.
The point I am trying to make above is that when either team has won, it has been on the strength of some briliant performances supported by team efforts.Such moments occur rarely in sport and until recently very rarely in Indian sport.We should appreciate the heroics of these players rather than question their attitudes and trying to weave dream theories about their hidedn motives.
Dadas boyz, I dare say are a clean bunch.In colloqoial (spelling correct ?? marathi "Aapla phool support ahe aaplya team la"
The spectre of match fixing has raised its ugly head again and left me in a depressed mood.I am a die hard cricket fan.Cricket is my nasha,my passion and no doubt one of my motivators.A good performance by the Men in Blue raises my self confidence a few notches,a defeat often signals the start of a dreary, lackluster day or even a couple of them and god forbid more than that.
Over a period of time, I have tamed down a little bit, but only just.(What this really means is that I no longer follow Zim. V/s Aus or Bangladesh V/s SL types of tests, or the fortunes of a hopelessly dull Maharashtra Ranji team, wherein the only point of interest is whether Hayden hits a qaurter ton a la Lara or whether Murali ends up with 20 wickets in the test instead of his customary 15).
Perhaps this is why I am deeply troubled and hurt everytime someone mentions, as casually as he were telling a joke, "Are Sujya. Matches fixed ahet bahutek, nahitar aapan itka bhari kheluch shakat nahi".Not only does it send me in the "I am angry and pissed of zone" it also makes me wonder if the person making these allegations had the brain size of a intelligent pea.
It is terribly unfair for the 11 guys out there in the middle to say the least.I mean c,mmon.I was especially incensed and infuriated when I heard these allegations during the recent Indo-Pak series.Here we were, going to our bugbears after 15 years, with only Tendlya having played in Pak before, carrying a young team, with not only cricket matches to win but also hearts (Ref : Atal jees statement, "Matches hi nahi, Dil bhi jeet lo").When they actually started winning the Conspiracy theorists were out with knives.Games have been predecied at the highest political levels so as to benefit both governments.
Oh really and of course Pervej Mias cook has told u that or perhaps Ataljees secretary sent u a phone call one fine morning.Given the efforts that our team put in the oneday and test games, I am willing tp bet my bottom Dollar (There aint too much of them anyway :-D) that we won Fair and Square.We played better cricket on most days, and wanted to win more badly than Pakistan. Hence the result.Of the 2 one day games we lost, one of them was on a green top where our batsmen were caught naping.Good bowling form Pak was responsible for our defeat and similar was the case in the 2nd test when Umar Gul ripped thro our line up again on a helpful track.Of the games we won, the 4th oneday was due to a stunning partnershipo between Kaif and Dravid.The first one day we won by keeping our cool, and the 5th was due to a amazing boundary catch by tendlya. A test was won on the back of a glorious triple ton by Viru. and of course the Wall was infallible in the 3rd one.
The point I am trying to make above is that when either team has won, it has been on the strength of some briliant performances supported by team efforts.Such moments occur rarely in sport and until recently very rarely in Indian sport.We should appreciate the heroics of these players rather than question their attitudes and trying to weave dream theories about their hidedn motives.
Dadas boyz, I dare say are a clean bunch.In colloqoial (spelling correct ?? marathi "Aapla phool support ahe aaplya team la"
April 28, 2004
Sharya must be drunk
YoYo,
Tis happened a week ago.The plight of the Bajarangis!!
Sharya (on our VIT e group) (smiling mischieviously as he wrote this, I presume ) : ....and yes, everyone do let me know @ ur current jobs, academic institutes where u r doign research, your cars and ur (This was the killer bomb) Sex life status!!!!
Tats (reading the email in school next morning,that is all i ever do these days,since RA activities have taken a virtual backseat ) (Mood quickly swinging from comical smile to a frustrated and then to a helpless one, finally settling on that) : Sharya,ekach aawaj ahe saglyancha "ZERO".The answer is as universal/unanimous as there is life on this planet and sunlight in Miami.
Keep it up boyz!
Tis happened a week ago.The plight of the Bajarangis!!
Sharya (on our VIT e group) (smiling mischieviously as he wrote this, I presume ) : ....and yes, everyone do let me know @ ur current jobs, academic institutes where u r doign research, your cars and ur (This was the killer bomb) Sex life status!!!!
Tats (reading the email in school next morning,that is all i ever do these days,since RA activities have taken a virtual backseat ) (Mood quickly swinging from comical smile to a frustrated and then to a helpless one, finally settling on that) : Sharya,ekach aawaj ahe saglyancha "ZERO".The answer is as universal/unanimous as there is life on this planet and sunlight in Miami.
Keep it up boyz!
April 24, 2004
411 goes wireless and I go injured
6 roomies.5 cell phones.3 laptops and 2PCs.Our house is a mini tech center.Guess who is the exception? Yours truly.I for one have never been fascinated by technology and stuff like that.It really doesnt register with me all this hi-fi stuff.Modem ...DSL...wireless...signal strength......RAM ...cache...i really couldnt careless about this.............
For me technology should help me get things done WITHOUT HASSLE.If that works than for me that is good technology!!!This discussion /blog is left incomplete since I have injured my wrist (my right one this time) playing Vball.I am now carrying quite a few niggling injuries
just recovered from a potential left wrist fracture (almost...luckily it healed on its own, )..2 swollen fingers on right hand while playing on the net.I had just about recovered until today i undid all the work.Also a slight pain near my right thigh from what I have no clue.
Oh God!!! Please hellp me recover!!!!!!!
:)
For me technology should help me get things done WITHOUT HASSLE.If that works than for me that is good technology!!!This discussion /blog is left incomplete since I have injured my wrist (my right one this time) playing Vball.I am now carrying quite a few niggling injuries
just recovered from a potential left wrist fracture (almost...luckily it healed on its own, )..2 swollen fingers on right hand while playing on the net.I had just about recovered until today i undid all the work.Also a slight pain near my right thigh from what I have no clue.
Oh God!!! Please hellp me recover!!!!!!!
:)
April 11, 2004
Phone cards
They suck.Period.I cant fathom why a phone card will promise you 21 minutes online and give you only 9 when you actually place the call.I fail to understand why when you try and call the customer service you wont get to speak to a live human but instead have to navigate your way through a automated menu.It is beyond my comprehension, why I spent 45 minutes last nite trying a place a call to pune.I was successful in doing so only this morning,that too using satya's big zoo.
All i wanted to do was to congragulate my brother for his new job.The whole experience made sour by the frustration in reaching your near and dear ones and made more comical by the fact that when i reached pune,Sandeep was out with friends.
Kya kare kya na kare yai kaisi mushkil hai!!!!!
All i wanted to do was to congragulate my brother for his new job.The whole experience made sour by the frustration in reaching your near and dear ones and made more comical by the fact that when i reached pune,Sandeep was out with friends.
Kya kare kya na kare yai kaisi mushkil hai!!!!!
March 27, 2004
Going down. China town......Big time
Shoot...I am in deep shit.Funding problems,Thesis problems,tooth cap loose....2 more proposals due by monday,,,,,My lifes a deep black hole at the moment.Surprisingly I feel fresh and fairly calm about the whole thing,as if in the knowledge that some divine intervention will save the day for me.
Its Anands Bday today.Thats the silver lining,Just speaking to him made me feel much better.
Turns out he has more confidence in me than I do.Odd eh?
Just want to lay low for some time.Let the bad winds pass.After that its going to be sunshine again for sure.After all I do live in the sunshine state
but before i go off...
Happpy Bday anand
Happy Bday to u
Happy Bday to u...
Its Anands Bday today.Thats the silver lining,Just speaking to him made me feel much better.
Turns out he has more confidence in me than I do.Odd eh?
Just want to lay low for some time.Let the bad winds pass.After that its going to be sunshine again for sure.After all I do live in the sunshine state
but before i go off...
Happpy Bday anand
Happy Bday to u
Happy Bday to u...
March 24, 2004
Jeetega Bhai Jeetega,Hindustan Jeetega
Am I emotionally drained.Watching these games does tire me I tell you.When Moin and Shoaib got that partnership going I knew that we were not through.And then Sami hits that huge six of Balaji,My nerves were on the edge.Its a good thing that the Men in Blue are used to handling such matters on a regular basis.Keeping cool under pressure,one of the recently developed attributes of our team, is probably the toughest and hardest habit to inculcate for a sportsman.But this Indian team is really different.
The arrival of Kaif Yuvraj ,Sehwag,Zaheer ,Bhajji,Irfan (Ohhh...how i love his attitude even more than his swing)on the big stage ,I beleive has turned the face of Indian cricket.Ever since the Lords win, our team is looking different.They are products of a fearless new Indian generation,that bear no inferiority complex to any white skinned players, and certainly never to our across the border rivals.It doesnt matter whether you speak English or whether you come from plush metro cities.So long as you can whack the ball,throw yourself in the field and save those couple of runs and contribute 4 5 overs of tight bowling, you are in the game.The benefits (Read money,fame etc) will follow, almost as a rule of nature.Coming from rural and small cities hasnt been a stumbling block for these new breed of players.Their talent and more importantly their attitude has taken them places.
For too long,after Javeds historic six,Indian cricketers were perceived to go into matches against Pakistan with a down and negative feeling.There is no doubt that ,that single shot set our team and cricket back by a few years.A haunting reminder was the Chennai test,I was almost in tears.While those emotions have certainly subsided, and ghosts exorcised by a series of high profile wins (Toronto,Dakka Indepence cup chase, WC 2003,1st oneday Karachi) it would now be true to say that Indian cricket ,under Ganguly is discovering itself for the better.
Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainities, but it is perhaps a safe bet to say that Indian cricket is under safe hands.
The arrival of Kaif Yuvraj ,Sehwag,Zaheer ,Bhajji,Irfan (Ohhh...how i love his attitude even more than his swing)on the big stage ,I beleive has turned the face of Indian cricket.Ever since the Lords win, our team is looking different.They are products of a fearless new Indian generation,that bear no inferiority complex to any white skinned players, and certainly never to our across the border rivals.It doesnt matter whether you speak English or whether you come from plush metro cities.So long as you can whack the ball,throw yourself in the field and save those couple of runs and contribute 4 5 overs of tight bowling, you are in the game.The benefits (Read money,fame etc) will follow, almost as a rule of nature.Coming from rural and small cities hasnt been a stumbling block for these new breed of players.Their talent and more importantly their attitude has taken them places.
For too long,after Javeds historic six,Indian cricketers were perceived to go into matches against Pakistan with a down and negative feeling.There is no doubt that ,that single shot set our team and cricket back by a few years.A haunting reminder was the Chennai test,I was almost in tears.While those emotions have certainly subsided, and ghosts exorcised by a series of high profile wins (Toronto,Dakka Indepence cup chase, WC 2003,1st oneday Karachi) it would now be true to say that Indian cricket ,under Ganguly is discovering itself for the better.
Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainities, but it is perhaps a safe bet to say that Indian cricket is under safe hands.
February 29, 2004
Yo
Indo-Pak clashes are about to start, and as usual I am terribly excited.Already Miandad,that irrepressible son-of-a-gun and Apna Captain Courageous have exchanged verbal barbs with javed asking for 200% from all and Saurav bluntly stating that "Pak is no Australia" and both, careful,not to cause domestic disturbances.This tour of course has tremendous political implications as well.
Whatever the rival players.captains ,managers and administrators may say,there is little doubt in my mind that the faceoff between the traditional foes is definitely not "just another cricket contest" I think its just a cliche used by everyone to keep their blood glucose levels from hitting a high.How can it ever be just another contest when over a billion people will take a day off from their daily office duties ,sit glued to the TV,and experience what is a virtual thrill a minute ride.How can it be a normal game when its result will decide the mood of the nation for the coming days.So much so that some in the incumbent govt. actually lost sleep over the impending doom that would occur were we to loose.Depression would set in and the "Feel good factor " advantage would be lost .Disastrous consequences indeed. A victory ,on the other hand,is celebrated a an instance of national prode.Junta will spill over on the streets, with drums and biguls and what not.Perhaps the Sensex will shoot up!!!
Exactly an year ago,when we played Pak in the world cup INdia's cricketing frenzy had touched a new zenith.Sachin Tendulkar all of 5 feet something destroyed the much touted Shoaib into submission.He pulverised the Pak. attack in a matter of a few overs.A swish cut over point for 6, followed by a delectable ondrive past the bowler and topped with a trademark flick that speed to the boundary.Tendlya ,that day played with the finesse of a Vishwanath, the arrogance and mercilessness of Richards and the clinical determination of Steve waugh. Within the first few overs of the Indian Innings it became clear that we had won the mental game.Chasing the target then was merely a matter of kepping a cool head and who better at that than Dravid.Of course Kaifs solid 30 odd and Yuivrajs contributions were teh unsung background part.There were more than 25 people at my place that day.We were in the living room occupying every possible space.Tenseeeeeeee...We won and thats all that mattres really
As Vince Lombardi aptly said "Winning isint everything,its the ONLY THING"
Go Saurav
Go TEAM INDIA
Go INDIA.....
Indo-Pak clashes are about to start, and as usual I am terribly excited.Already Miandad,that irrepressible son-of-a-gun and Apna Captain Courageous have exchanged verbal barbs with javed asking for 200% from all and Saurav bluntly stating that "Pak is no Australia" and both, careful,not to cause domestic disturbances.This tour of course has tremendous political implications as well.
Whatever the rival players.captains ,managers and administrators may say,there is little doubt in my mind that the faceoff between the traditional foes is definitely not "just another cricket contest" I think its just a cliche used by everyone to keep their blood glucose levels from hitting a high.How can it ever be just another contest when over a billion people will take a day off from their daily office duties ,sit glued to the TV,and experience what is a virtual thrill a minute ride.How can it be a normal game when its result will decide the mood of the nation for the coming days.So much so that some in the incumbent govt. actually lost sleep over the impending doom that would occur were we to loose.Depression would set in and the "Feel good factor " advantage would be lost .Disastrous consequences indeed. A victory ,on the other hand,is celebrated a an instance of national prode.Junta will spill over on the streets, with drums and biguls and what not.Perhaps the Sensex will shoot up!!!
Exactly an year ago,when we played Pak in the world cup INdia's cricketing frenzy had touched a new zenith.Sachin Tendulkar all of 5 feet something destroyed the much touted Shoaib into submission.He pulverised the Pak. attack in a matter of a few overs.A swish cut over point for 6, followed by a delectable ondrive past the bowler and topped with a trademark flick that speed to the boundary.Tendlya ,that day played with the finesse of a Vishwanath, the arrogance and mercilessness of Richards and the clinical determination of Steve waugh. Within the first few overs of the Indian Innings it became clear that we had won the mental game.Chasing the target then was merely a matter of kepping a cool head and who better at that than Dravid.Of course Kaifs solid 30 odd and Yuivrajs contributions were teh unsung background part.There were more than 25 people at my place that day.We were in the living room occupying every possible space.Tenseeeeeeee...We won and thats all that mattres really
As Vince Lombardi aptly said "Winning isint everything,its the ONLY THING"
Go Saurav
Go TEAM INDIA
Go INDIA.....
February 23, 2004
Yo
The week is off to an awful start.Started with drinking Baileys with coffee last nite.Was my noble plan I must confess but then I didnt expect the rest of the gang to savor the Irish Coffee with that gusto.Sleeping late for me usually translates into not sleeping well which means when I wake up I am not fresh.So was the case today.And then I hear the news that my thesis topic is about to change or likely to change.Whew!Just had a meeting with Renu and for a change it was a good one.Was more focussed than anything I had in a long time and has done considerably to improve my mood.And thats why I have the motivation to post a blog.I hope I get out of the goddamn mess that I am currently in for apparently no fault of my own other than not having the foresight to understand that our molecular biology lab DOES NOT i repeat DOES NOT have the capacity to produce 1 gm Br.And no Br means no experiments and no experiments means no backup for the theorotical simulation work that I have been doing for a while now.Sucksssssssssssssssssssssssss
Jeezz...Later
The week is off to an awful start.Started with drinking Baileys with coffee last nite.Was my noble plan I must confess but then I didnt expect the rest of the gang to savor the Irish Coffee with that gusto.Sleeping late for me usually translates into not sleeping well which means when I wake up I am not fresh.So was the case today.And then I hear the news that my thesis topic is about to change or likely to change.Whew!Just had a meeting with Renu and for a change it was a good one.Was more focussed than anything I had in a long time and has done considerably to improve my mood.And thats why I have the motivation to post a blog.I hope I get out of the goddamn mess that I am currently in for apparently no fault of my own other than not having the foresight to understand that our molecular biology lab DOES NOT i repeat DOES NOT have the capacity to produce 1 gm Br.And no Br means no experiments and no experiments means no backup for the theorotical simulation work that I have been doing for a while now.Sucksssssssssssssssssssssssss
Jeezz...Later
February 03, 2004
Yo
Its been 15 days or more since I came back and I am straight into the action.I thought last sem was crucial considering the courses I was taking and I was rite.But this sem could literally make or break me.If I dont progress on my thesis in the next few months I am doomed.Its like the 20-40 over stage of a one day game.The initial excitement has died down abd the fun of finish is still far away.The phase is dull almost boring but hang On!!! I need to be really careful from here on.A little slip here and there and BOOM!I guess I am being a little pessimistic but I think I am only being aware of the realities.And now that I am ,I guess I should be going back to work :)
Tats
Its been 15 days or more since I came back and I am straight into the action.I thought last sem was crucial considering the courses I was taking and I was rite.But this sem could literally make or break me.If I dont progress on my thesis in the next few months I am doomed.Its like the 20-40 over stage of a one day game.The initial excitement has died down abd the fun of finish is still far away.The phase is dull almost boring but hang On!!! I need to be really careful from here on.A little slip here and there and BOOM!I guess I am being a little pessimistic but I think I am only being aware of the realities.And now that I am ,I guess I should be going back to work :)
Tats
January 18, 2004
Being a weekend and still in the grips of a mild jetlag all my roomies are merrily snoring away at 9-00 am on a glorious winter morning.of course yesterdays night long match viewing certainly has contributed to disturbing our schedules.The calm is almost terrifying coming as it does after my chaotic hectic but a memorable trip to India.A 35 day vacation was filled with as much fun and frolic as was humanly possible !Oddly enough I feel good to be back here.Its time to get on with the business; If completing MS could be called that ,at all.With the Thesis work to be done I am sure I will have my hands full in the coming months.Wish me luck MATES!!
PS: I love the aussies way of english.The current Indo-Aus series is only intensifying that love!
PS: I love the aussies way of english.The current Indo-Aus series is only intensifying that love!
Being a weekend and still in the grips of a mild jetlag all my roomies are merrily snoring away at 9-00 am on a glorious winter morning.of course yesterdays night long match viewing certainly has contributed to disturbing our schedules.The calm is almost terrifying coming as it does after my chaotic hectic but a memorable trip to India.A 35 day vacation was filled with as much fun and frolic as was humanly possible !Oddly enough I feel good to be back here.Its time to get on with the business; If completing MS could be called that ,at all.With the Thesis work to be done I am sure I will have my hands full in the coming months.Wish me luck MATES!!
PS: I love the aussies way of english.The current Indo-Aus series is only intensifying that love!
PS: I love the aussies way of english.The current Indo-Aus series is only intensifying that love!
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